Wrapped container



May 25, 1.937. H. H. REPLOGLE ET AL WRAPPED CONTAINER Filed Nov. l5, 1934 N "mi I .4 uw@ f4 f w INVEN-roR ATTO NEYS Patented May 25, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE4 WRAPPED CONTAINER Application November 15, 1934, Serial No. 753,110

12 Claims.

' The invention relates in general to packaging and, in particular to an improved wrapped container such as bottles and to correlated improvements in the decoration and identication of the wrapper.

Heretofore it has been the practice to enclose bottles containing perfumes, medicines, beverages in a wrapper consisting of a sheet of transparent flexible non-brous'material, such, for example, as regenerated cellulose, the sheet being first wetted and then applied to the bottle so as to conform substantially to the curvature of the neck. When the sheet dries, the Wrapper remains stuck to the glass, but the degree of adhesion is such that the wrapper may easily be stripped from the bottle without tearing it. In view of this fact and the prohibitive cost of employing adhesives over the entire sheet, the use 0f such transparent wrappers on bottles does not prevent the pirating of the wrappers, the adulteration of the contents, or even the substitution of other bottles containing otherliquids for the one originally enclosed in the wrapper. Accordingly the use of such wrappers imparts no feature of protection to the wrapped bottle and provides only av slight decorative interest.

Therefore it is a general object of the invention to provide an improved wrapped container, the wrapper of which is characterized by novel markings lcontrasting with the base sheet material as regards color and/or transparency, and a label so positioned with respect to the bottle that the wrapper cannot vbe removed without complete destruction ofthe wrapper, thus preventing pirating and the adulteration of the contents of the bottle, and a method for`applying such a wrapper to a bottle.

It is another object ofthe invention to provide an improved method of enclosing bottles in transparent wrappers whereby the contents, or the maker of the product contained in the bottle, may be clearly identified and the wrapper cannot be taken off or the contents removed-from the bottle without such destruction of the wrapper f as to indicate such "removal It is a specific object of the invention to provide an improved container comprising a bottle having a wrapper consisting of a sheet of nonflbrous homogeneous moisture-proof material thereon and a, transparent, shrinkable, non-- brous closure over the mouth of said bottle, the shrinkable closureand wrapper being so positioned that neither can be removed without such destruction thereof -as would indicate the removal, whereby the pirating of the wrapper and the adulteration of the contents of the bottle are conform substantially to the shape of the bottle,

lthe mouth of the bottle being covered with a shrinkable container closure the skirt of which encloses the draped portions of the wrapper.

The invention accordingly comprises a novel article comprising the features, the elements and the relation of elements, and a process comprising the steps and the relation of steps, all as exemplified in the following detailed disclosure, and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the claims.

For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention reference should be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in`

which Fig. 1 is an elevational view of a container provided with a wrapper in accordance with one modification of the present invention;

Fig. 2 isan elevational view of a modified form; Fig. 3 is an elevational view of a further modication; and

Fig. 4 is an elevational view of another modii'led form of the invention.

Referring to the drawing, a container, such, for example, as a bottle I0, is Wrapped in a sheet Il of transparent flexible material Vin such a manner that the longitudinal seam is lengthwise of the bottle and preferably on the back or side thereof. At the bottom I2 of the bottle the overhanging portions of the wrapper are folded over one upon another and united by a suitable adhesive or by heat-sealing the contiguous surfaces if the wrapper is of the heat-sealing type. At the upper end I3 of the container the overhanging portions of the wrapper are draped to conform substantially to the shape of the neck of the bottle by folding, pleating, creasing, crimping, as

shown in Fig. 1, or by twisting together the ends' of the wrapper which extend beyond the top of the bottle, as shown in Fig'. 2. A shrinkable conthat when the closure shrinks, it will enclose and tauten the loose ends ofthe wrapper, as shown in Figl.,

Tlr""wrapper may comprise any suitable, flexible sheet material, either fibrous material such, for example, as paper, glassine, or non-fibrous, homogeneous material such, for example, as regenerated cellulose, cellulose esters, cellulose ethers, cellulose. alkoxy ethers, gelatin, casein, rubber and synthetic plastics such as chlorinated rubber and polymerized vinyl compounds in sheet form.

In the preferred embodiment of the container illustrated in Fig. 2, the wrapper is transparent and carries on its inner surface a label I5 which comprises indicia applied by any suitable means f such, for example, as printing, embossing, dyeing.v If desired, the label may comprise indicia applied to a separate sheet which is then attached to the inner face of the wrapper by a suitable adhesive, the design being adapted to be read through the transparent wrapper. If

desired, the entire surface of the wrapper may be provided with a suitable adhesive for attaching it to the surface of the bottle or other container as in tight wrapping. In the now preferred practice of the invention, the adhesive is applied only over the area covered by the label,

the wrapper being printed and the adhesive being applied over the printed design. In this form of the invention the wrapper is united to the container only at this point. The adhesive is of such a character that the bond formed between the wrapper and the surface of the bottle is stronger than the sheet material so that if it is attempted to remove the wrapper, the sheet will tear around the edges of the adhesive area so that the wrapper and design are mutilated beyond further use.

It has been found that the object of the invention is even better attained by applying the adhesive in predetermined areas over the surface occupied by the design. For example, as shown in Fig. 3, the adhesive may be applied in parallel stripes forming sealed areas |6-I6 and unsealed areas I 'I-I'I on the wrapper, running lengthwise of the label or design I5. When one attempts to remove a wrapper thus applied, the sheet will tear away from the bottle only where there is no adhesive and will adhere to the bottle where the adhesive has been applied. This will bring about the complete mutilation of the label or design I5 as well as of the wrapper.

To facilitate the tearing of the sheet where the adhesive is applied in predetermined areas, the wrapper may be provided with weakened lines at certain points above and over the design portion. For example, where the adhesive is applied in predetermined areas the wrapper may be weakened alonglines |8-I8, as shown in Fig. 3, adjacent the edges of the adhesive area or along a line I9 passing over at least a portion of the area occupied by the label as illustrated in Fig. 2, so that the wrapper is more readily torn when removed.

In Fig. 4, the wrapper is provided with a label I5 having a main part 20 adhesively united to the bottle and an auxiliary part 2| free of adhesive and secured to the wrapper. Weakened lines 22 are provided around the top and sides of the main section 20 so that when the wrapper is removed, the auxiliary part 2| will be torn away, while the main part 20 remains on the bottle. 'I'he main part 20 may bear a notice directing attention to the fact that if the auxiliary part 2| of the label is missing, the container has been tampered with and/or that the manufacturer will not guarantee the contentsy under such condition.

The shrinkable container closure I4 may comprise a cap or band formed of a non-fibrous, homogeneous material swelling inA water such, for example, as cellulose hydrate, an alkali-soluble cellulose ether, gelatine, casein, or it may consist of non-fibrous homogeneous material which swells in an organic solvent such, for example as cellulose esters, such as cellulose acetate, cellulose ethers, such as di-ethyl cellulose and dibenzyl cellulose. The closure shrinks upon the loss of the solvent and conforms substantially to the shape of the mouth and neck of the container. The invention also contemplates the use of a spun metal cap enclosing the upper end of the wrapper.

If desired, there may be employed in conjunction with the labelled wrapper adhesively united to the surface of the container and a shrinkable closure applied over the upper end of the wrapper by the use of an adhesive, an indicia-bearing band 23 positioned lengthwise of the container and extending from a point beneath the closure to a substantial distance below such closure and preferably joining the label. The indicia-bearing band 23 may be a printed representation applied to the wrapping sheet or it may be applied on a separate strip of material which is adhesively united to the wrapper.

The ink employed is of such character that it will be dissolved by a solvent of the adhesive n employed in applying the shrlnkable container closure. If one attempts to remove the closure by immersing it in a solvent of the adhesive, such solvent will cause the ink on the indicia-bearing band 23 to run and this would indicate clearly that the closure had been tampered with.

It will be observed that by the present invention there is provided a novel and advantageous wrapped `container for packaging commodities such, for example, as perfumes, medicine, beverages, in such a manner as to inhibit or prevent the pirating of the wrapper, trade-marks, slogans, etc., or the adulteration of or substitution of the contents of the container, the wrapper and closure being so applied to the bottle that it is dimcult or impossible to remove same without such destruction thereof as will indicate such removal.

Since certain changes in carrying out the above process, and certain modifications in the article which embodies the invention may be made without departing from its scope, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawing shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

It is also to be understood that the following claims are intendedto cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described, and all statements of the scope of the Iinvention which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.

We claim:

1. As an article of manufacture, the combination of a container in the form of a bottle, a

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transparent wrapper enclosing said container and bearing a label applied on the inner surface the mouth of said container and enclosing the upper end of the wrapper.

2v. As an article of manufacture, the combination of a container in the form of a bottle, and a transparent Wrapper enclosing said container and bearing a label applied on the inner surface thereof, said Wrapper rbeing united to the surface of said. container by an adhesive applied in parallel stripes over the area occupied by the label, said stripes being positioned lengthwise of the bottle so that the label will be mutilated when the Wrapper is removed from the bottle.

3. As an article of manufacture, the combination of a container in the form of a bottle, a transparent wrapper enclosing said container and bearing a label applied on the inner surfacev thereof, said wrapper being united to the surface of said container by an adhesive applied in parallel stripes over the area occupied by the label and a shrinkable closure positioned over the mouth of said container and enclosing the upper end of the wrapper.

4. As an article of manufacture, the combination of a bottle, a wrapper of transparent, nonbrous material enclosing said bottle and bearing a label comprising indicia applied on the inner surface thereof, said wrapper being united to the surface of the bottle by an adhesive applied in parallel stripes over the area occupied by the label, the upper end of the wrapper being gathered around the neck of said bottle and enclosed by a shrinkable closure covering the mouth of said bottle.

5. As an article of manufacture, the combination of a container in the form of a bottle, and a transparent wrapper formed of 'regenerated ce1- lulose enclosing said container and bearing a label applied on the inner surface thereof, said wrapper being united to the surface of the container over the area occupied by the label, said wrapper being provided with weakened lines extending across a part of said label.

6. As an article of manufacture, the combination of a container in the form of a bottle, and a transparent wrapper enclosingsaid container and bearing `-a label applied on the inner surface thereof, said wrapper being unitedto the surface of the container in an area occupied by the label, said wrapper being provided with weakened lines extending across a part of said label.

7. As an article of manufacture, the combination of a container in the form of a bottle, a transparent wrapper enclosing said container and bearing a label applied on the inner surface thereof, said wrapper being united to the surface of the container over the area occupied by the label, said wrapper being provided with weakened lines extending across a part of said label and a shrinkable closure positioned over the mouth of said container and enclosing the upper end of the wrapper.

8. As an article of manufacture, the combination of a` container in the form of a bottle, a transparent wrapper enclosing said container and bearing a label applied on theI inner surface thereof, said wrapper being united to the surface of said container by an adhesive applied in parallel stripes over the area occupied by the label, said wrapper being provided with weakened lines adjacent the edges of the area occupied by the adhesive.

9. As an article of manufacture, the combina-.- tion of a bottle, a wrapper enclosing said bottle and bearing a label, said wrapper being united to the surface of said bottle over the area occuf pied by the label, a shrinkable .closure adhesively affixed over the mouth of 'the bottle and enclosing the upper end of the wrapper, and indicia positioned on the wrapper so as to extend beneath said closure, the indicia comprising a material which is soluble in a solvent for theadhesive employed to affix said closure.

10. As an articlev of manufacture, the combination of a container in the form of a bottle, a

wrapper enclosing said container and bearing a label thereon, the wrapper being adhesively united to the surface of the container over the area occupied by the label, a shrinkable closure in the form of a cap positioned over the mouth of the container and enclosing the upper end of said wrapper.

11. As an article of manufacture, the combination of a container in the form of a. bottle, a wrapper enclosing said container and bearing a label thereon, the wrapper being adhesively united to the surface of the container over the area occupied by the label, a shrinkable closure in the form of a band positioned around the neck of the container.

12. As an article of manufacture, the combination of a container in the form of a bottle, a 

